OMTL Day 2: Roller Coaster

Yesterday’s chapter was an introduction. Today we start the first of 4 sections, this section is the “Live Passionately”.

Do you see your life more as a safe ride, or a trip on the Big Dipper (a roller coaster)? Are some areas safe and others not?

I see my life as mostly a safe ride. Work is very safe. Family is pretty safe.

Church has a bit of a roller coaster there, since we just changed churches. The new church is more challenging and is requiring more faithful action on my part. More growth.

I’m a big risk taker when it comes to my hobbies.

Are you doing anything in your life right now that requires faith?

I’ve decided to create a TV show and will be investing time and money in it the next couple of weeks. It is taking faith – I’m not sure if it is faith in God – to do it even though I really don’t have the skills needed.

Choosing to host a One Month to Live small group has taken faith. We’re very new to the church but we’ve decided to host one of these groups. And everyone in the group is going to be people we’ve invited. The church has a means for people to find out about our group, but no one has called saying they want to be part. I asked two of my friends from work if they wanted to come. One said “No, I’m fine”. One couldn’t make it the night we planned, but he was so interested in the material he bought two books and we’re going to meet at lunch on Thursday to go over it.

Right now it actually looks like no one will be coming to the group but my family. In the past that would have meant our group was a failure. But I’m being faithful, and if we’re all there is, then that’s the way God wants it.

If you were certain your life as you know it would end a few weeks, what would be your biggest regret? Why?

If I died in a month my biggest regret would be I’d never see my eldest son again. I know that people have a God given free will, but I still feel I’m responsible for his becoming an atheist.

My wife once got mad at me because I said I regretted having not joined the Marines when I was younger. But somethings you just wish you’d done and now you can’t.

I also wish I’d gone to film school.

In what area of your life are you suffering from Someday Syndrome?

There is only one thing I’m saying “I’ll do it when the kids get out of college. Or when I retire.” That’s going to film school.

Kerry says you should do these someday things now. I find it a little frustrating, because I just can’t. I’ve got two boys who will be going to college very soon. I can’t quit my job and go back to school myself while sending them to college as well. I’m extremely blessed financially, but I’m not independently wealthy. So I will have to do it “someday”.

Actually I think there are ways it could happen, but they are out of my control. So if the Lord wants me to go to film school soon, he’ll have to provide the way.

On the good side, I’m not saying I can’t go to film school because I’m too old. I’ll be just as old in two or four years if I go to film school or not. So why not do something I want with that two years?

Instead of a roller coaster, what symbol or metaphor would you choose to describe what your life would look like if you were fully engaged?

How about a film. Specifically Act two. Where the character is overcoming obstacals on their way to the Act 3 climax and resolution. The plot point at the end of Act 1 turns everything on its head and make the character commit to his dramatic need.